Significance of vestibular tests in idiopathic facial paralysis

Vestibular tests do not seem to be comparable with established bioelectric tests in predicting recovery of facial nerve function. In this study normal vestibular status indicates a good prognosis and spontaneous recovery of facial nerve function. Persistent abnormal response indicates degeneration. Vestibular reactions do not improve with decompression suggesting that the lesion extends into the Internal acoustic meatus.     

Isolation and characterization of viruses from natural outbreaks of reticuloendotheliosis in turkeys.

We have described the in vitro isolation of type-C RNA viruses from two outbreaks of a fatal neoplastic disease in turkeys we diagnosed as reticuloendotheliosis. The virus had a density of 1.16 g/ml in sucrose gradients, had a DNA polymerase capable of using both endogenous and exogenous (synthetic) templates, and was infectious in vitro for turkey and chick cells. The culture-propagated virus was oncogenic for turkeys. The virus isolates were unrelated to avian leukosis virus and antigenically identical to reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) strain T. Thus our studies suggested that REV is a causative agent of naturally occurring, fatal leukosis in turkeys.     

Quantitative measurement of [3H]ouabain binding to human skeletal muscle cryostat sections

The etiopathogenesis of myotonic muscular dystrophy is thought to involve a basic defect in muscle membrane. Biochemical investigations of human muscle membrane have been hampered by difficulty in obtaining large quantities of muscle at biopsy for the preparation of sarcolemma. We have determined [3H]ouabain binding to normal and myotonic dystrophy human skeletal muscle by using cryostat sections. The binding increased with increase in number of tissue sections (protein) and in concentrations of [3H]ouabain, ATP and Na+. The binding of [3H]ouabain in myotonic dystrophy patients was 2-3 fold higher than in normal and disease controls. Kinetic analysis revealed that the increased binding of ouabain to myotonic tissue sections was independent of low-affinity sites directed by ATP and Na+. These findings provide further evidence for the involvement of membrane abnormalities in myotonic muscular dystrophy.     

Functional and Morphometric Study of Cryopreserved Human Parathyroid Tissue Transplanted into Nude Mice

r = 0.95), which indicates that cell proliferation is closely related to PTH secretion under the condition of successful transplantation. The experimental transplantation of cryopreserved tissue into nude mice, coupled with a concise immunohistochemical study of the grafts conducted prior to their transplantation into humans, can contribute to the evaluation of PTH secretion and cell proliferation.     

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy in the management of recurrent malignant pericardial effusions.

Two patients with recurrent symptomatic pericardial effusions secondary to malignant disease were successfully treated by percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. Open surgery was avoided and the procedure was completed under local anaesthesia in less than 40 minutes. The first patient was free of recurrence at nine months but pericardial effusion recurred at two months in the second patient. Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy offers a potentially important new means of relieving recurrent tamponade and substantially reduces trauma to the patient.